How it should be...

[Arch]

Coming home from the CC ride today, I turned into my road (a little back street in the middle of town, but not busy, very few cars and most people stroll down the road itself) to find a large family group walking down the road. In the middle was a little boy - 2 or 3, who'd been distracted looking back over his shoulder at something. He was bang in the middle of the road, with various adults behind him, so I didn't really want to go one side or the other in case he moved suddenly. His parents saw me and told him "Look out, move over etc," but he was just too interested in whatever it was. I caught their eyes and smiled and slowed down and slowed down until I rolled right up to him - at which point he turned back and finally noticed me! The rest of the family were very apologetic, but he just stared at me - no surprise, just a sort of "Oh, what are you!" I was in a yellow hi-vis with one flashing headlight, in fairly good late afternoon sun....

I could have got arsey about them being in the road, but I was nearly home, and in no hurry. We all laughed it off, and went our separate ways.

He had a balloon too. I'm a sucker for kids with balloons....

 

[SBH]

Nice to hear, Arch! Completely different circumstances but my ride this afternoon was equally "how it should be"...

I improved my average time around my route significantly.
No one overtook me too closely.
No one left-hooked me.
People gave me space and time at all of the pinch points.
I didn't have any "clipped in" moments.
It didn't rain despite the heavy clouds.
The wind, while occasionally present, was not a major problem.
There was no one to get in the way on the bike paths.
Gaps in traffic miraculously appeared when I needed them.
Someone even waved me through at a mini-roundabout despite their right of way.

Weird, huh!?